Good evening.
My name is Fatima Farmer and in this sleep story we will be visiting a Bible story called The Fiery Furnace.
This story was written by Daniel and can be found in the Bible in Daniel chapter 3 verses 1 through 30.
As we prepare for this story I invite you to find your favorite sleeping position.
Getting comfortable and cozy under your favorite blanket.
Allowing your body to slowly relax.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Again deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Continue breathing at your own pace sticking with that rhythm.
And before you know it you will have drifted off to sleep as I share The Fiery Furnace Bible story with you.
Let's begin.
King Nebuchadnezzar had a gold statue made 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide and he had it set up in the plain of Dora in the province of Babylon.
Then the king gave orders for all his officials to come together.
The princes,
Governors,
Lieutenant governors,
Commissioners,
Treasurers,
Judges,
Magistrates and all the other officials of the province.
They were to attend the dedication of the statue which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
When all these officials gathered for dedication and stood in front of the statue a herald announced in a loud voice,
People of all nations,
Races and languages.
You will hear the sound of trumpets followed by the playing of oboes,
Lyres,
Zitherists and harps and then all the other instruments will join in.
As soon as the music starts you are to bow down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
Anyone who does not bow down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.
And as soon as they heard the sound of the instruments the people of all the nations,
Races and languages bow down and worship the gold statue which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
It was then that some Babylonians took the opportunity to denounce the Jews.
They said to King Nebuchadnezzar,
May your majesty live forever.
Your majesty has issued an order that as soon as the music starts everyone is to bow down and worship the gold statue and that anyone who does not bow down and worship it is to be thrown into a blazing furnace.
There are some Jews who you put in charge of the province of Babylon,
Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego who are disobeying your majesty's orders.
They do not worship your god or bow down to the statue you set up.
At that the king flew into a rage and ordered the three men to be brought before him.
He said to them,
Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego,
Is it true that you refuse to worship my god and bow down to the gold statue I have set up?
Now then,
As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets,
The oboes,
Lyres,
Zitheres,
Harps and all the other instruments,
Bow down and worship the statue.
If you do not,
You will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.
Do you think there is any god who can save you?
Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego answered,
Your majesty,
We will not try to defend ourselves.
If the god whom we serve is able to save us from the blazing furnace and from your power,
Then he will.
But even if he doesn't,
Your majesty may be sure that we will not worship your god and we will not bow down to the gold statue that you have set up.
Then Nebuchadnezzar lost his temper and his face turned red with anger at Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego.
So he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual and he commanded the strongest men in his army to tie the three men up and throw them into the blazing furnace.
So they tied them up,
Fully dressed,
Shirts,
Robes,
Capes and all,
And threw them into the blazing furnace.
Now because the king had given strict orders for the furnace to be made extremely hot,
The flames burned up the guards who took the men into the furnace.
Then Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego,
Still tied up,
Fell into the hearts of the blazing fire.
Suddenly,
Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement.
He asked his officials,
Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the blazing furnace?
They answered,
Yes,
We did,
Your majesty.
Then why do I see four men walking around in the fire,
He asked.
They are not tied up and they show no sign of being hurt and the fourth one looks like an angel.
So Nebuchadnezzar went up to the door of the blazing furnace and called out,
Shadrach,
Meshach,
Abednego,
Servants of the supreme God,
Come out.
And they came out at once.
All the princes,
Governors,
Lieutenant governors and other officials of king gathered to look at the three men who had not been harmed by the fire.
Their hair was not seen,
Their clothes were not burned and there was no smell of smoke on them.
The king said,
Praise the God of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego.
He sent his angel and rescued these men who serve and trust him.
They disobeyed my orders and risked their lives rather than bow down and worship any God except their own.
And now I command that if anyone of any nation,
Race or language speaks disrespectfully of the God of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego,
He is to be torn limb from limb and his house is to be made a pile of ruins.
There is no other God who can rescue like this.
And the king promoted Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego to higher positions in the province of Babylon.
If you're still awake,
I invite you to take another deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.
And just allow your body to relax as you reflect on the story of the fiery furnace.
As you listen to the music,
Imagine elements of the story that stood out to you.
Imagine King Nebuchadnezzar's face.
Imagine the heat from the furnace.
Imagine Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego facing the king and being courageous enough to tell him that they refuse to worship his God.
Remember to breathe and allow your body to deeply relax.
Allow your imagination to drift as you listen to the music and drift off to sleep.
If you're still awake,
I invite you to play this sleep story again.
And before you know it,
You will have fallen asleep.
